Marin OKs $8 million for SMART after last-minute vote switch

A key piece of funding for North Bay commute rail has been approved by Marin County transportation officials after Larkspur's mayor made a last-minute decision to change her vote.

The Transportation Authority of Marin in an 8-6 vote Thursday approved providing $8 million to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit district, closing the funding gap to build the first section of line between the two counties.

SMART estimates that it needs $21 million to open its initial operating line from Railroad Square in Santa Rosa to downtown San Rafael in the fall of 2014.

To fill the funding void, an agreement was reached for the Marin authority to provide $8 million, the Sonoma County Transportation Authority $3 million and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission $10 million.

Sonoma County already has approved its $3 million, which comes in addition to the $11 million it already has given SMART. MTC will vote on its $10 million share on July 27.

Marin County committed its $8 million, but only after a narrow vote.

"It fills the gap, it shows that Marin has played a role in committing funds as well," said Sonoma County Supervisor Valerie Brown, chairwoman of SMART.

The Marin authority, however, plans to hold another meeting on the funding issue, which was hotly debated. A 7-7 deadlock was only broken when Larkspur Mayor Joan Lundstrom decided to change her vote later in the meeting, after much of the audience had gone home.

Lundstrom, who also sits on the SMART board, said during the meeting she was concerned that if the $8 million funding was not approved, it would jeopardize a $1.5 million bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal.

Although the 8-6 vote is considered valid and the funding approved, Marin County Supervisor Steve Kinsey, who is the authority's chairman, said he wants it to be reaffirmed in a special meeting.

"The action that was taken will be brought back for ratification, we will affirm the action in front of the public," Kinsey said.